Apple Launches Email Ad Campaign Focusing on Productivity

[kmj2318]

I'm going to make the case for the iPad in business.

I've been in many different types of business roles, and I've seen the usefulness of the iPad directly correlate with how much I need to interact with people. Working as an analyst, the iPad had very little use because the financial modeling can only be done on a PC, and most of my time was spent by myself researching. Contrast that to being a manager, spending a lot of my time on my feet interacting with people, the iPad is very useful. In this type of role, the software doesn't need to be as sophisticated because my ideas are at a higher level. I don't need the precision of a mouse, or a keyboard to type out a report. I need something unobtrusive. A way to take notes while visiting colleagues and also share what I'm working on. Or sketch out a mind map of an idea for someone. Could you imagine me carrying around my MacBook doing these things? It would be very awkward. The iPad replaces the pad of paper that I would have on me, but removes the need for me to add it to my computer when I get back.

I suspect that most people on technology message boards generally fall into categories where the iPad would be less useful, so there's some bias there.

Tim Cook has a lot of good things to say about the iPad, for obvious reasons. But stop to think what his typical day is like, and why he probably uses the iPad more than his computer. His productivity is in the form of managing people, making deals, etc. It's beyond the level of a PC. Compare that to a programmer whose level of productivity depends on the PC.

 

[StoneJack]

It is just saying that iPad can be a productivity tool just like Surface.
Add a bluetooth keyboard (i have like 3 of them), its a great writing tool.
You can also use stylus if u want. It is still much cheaper than Surface though.

 

[orioncrystalice]

although I understand making people more aware that Office is available, and it being a possible selling point....honestly I'd like to see them re-perfecting Pages and the other components of iWork and touting that all over the place. Everything pro users utilize shouldn't eventually go to a third-party app when we know Apple is more than capable of creating gold standard apps of their own. Sorry, not to go there again as has been done ad nauseum I'm sure, but it just comes to mind.

 

[Brandon263]

I guess the pilots who use navigation maps and flight manuals on their iPads are unproductive, as are the musicians who record tracks using iRigs and GarageBand. Or the actors who learn lines using Rehearsal. Or researchers who read and annotate papers using GoodReader.

 

[Mums]

I still cannot figure out how to produce something with my ipad.
If you produce something with iPad, please tell everyone what are you producing.

I have produced music with the iPad - in this one area it shines.

 

[TechGod]

"See? See? We have Office too!"

:|

You do realise the iWork suite is fairly old correct?

 

[Mainsail]

If I want to be productive I'll buy a laptop. There's exactly nothing productive about an iPad/tablet. It's inferior in every way that matters to MacBook, it's not nearly as good for taking photos as even an iPhone, it's way less portable than an iPhone, no more portable than my MacBook, offers little battery advantage if any, to the MacBook, has worse App developer support than the iPhone or MacBook, it's worse to type on than either an iPhone or MacBook... I mean, it's just big enough compared to an iPhone that it's uncomfortable to type on, and neither can dream of comparing to an actual keyboard... I guess you can buy the docks and all, but then why not just by what you're essentially turning the tablet into? *cough* laptop *cough*. Exactly what is more productive about it, again?

We have an iPad and it's okayish to use for reading emails (not replying), doing light browsing, watching videos where sound quality isn't a concern, playing some games... But that's about where it's usefulness ends. Why are they always trying to shove tablets down people's throats pretending they can even compare to an actual computer? I'll agree, the iPad is the best tablet out there, but tablets are just about as weak in the "I can actually use this for something" department as you can get.

Now, try to imagine a world where everyone does not have exactly the same needs as you. For example, a person who does most of their content creation on a desktop in their office, and only needs a light weight solution for mobile computing....review and respond to emails, calendaring, contacts, take some notes, draft short memos, review and annotate Office documents and pdfs.....So, they use a mobile operating system in a tablet form factor while mobile....crazy idea right!

The premise here is not that an iPad is better than a laptop for productivity. The idea is simply that a tablet can help folks be productive when mobile and away from the desktop computer. I know a number of people with pretty big jobs (many making big $$ in leadership positions) that don't drag a laptop with them anymore when on business travel. They get by with a tablet because they don't need to do major content creation whilst away from the office. A light weight solution is fine for some folks.

 

[Taustin Powers]

On my business trips, I only take my Ipad, been doing that for a few years now. I can write reports, work on spreadsheets, work on powerpoints, sign pdf documents (about the only thing a stylus is useful for IMO), and more. With cloud storage and syncing, it's basically an extension of my work computer.

It's not convenient for heavy duty work, but it's good for everything I want to do on a plane/train/etc...

 

[Traverse]

I've found that with the right app and a good keyboard or stylus you can be quite productive.

Word let me edit my semester project when my MacBook crapped out, OneNote lets me keep personal research projects and lists together, and Pages/Notability have proven efficient at keeping notes in class while iCloud, Dropbox, and OneDrive keep my work/content up to date and backed up.

 

[rish]

I'm going to make the case for the iPad in business.

I've been in many different types of business roles, and I've seen the usefulness of the iPad directly correlate with how much I need to interact with people. Working as an analyst, the iPad had very little use because the financial modeling can only be done on a PC, and most of my time was spent by myself researching. Contrast that to being a manager, spending a lot of my time on my feet interacting with people, the iPad is very useful. In this type of role, the software doesn't need to be as sophisticated because my ideas are at a higher level. I don't need the precision of a mouse, or a keyboard to type out a report. I need something unobtrusive. A way to take notes while visiting colleagues and also share what I'm working on. Or sketch out a mind map of an idea for someone. Could you imagine me carrying around my MacBook doing these things? It would be very awkward. The iPad replaces the pad of paper that I would have on me, but removes the need for me to add it to my computer when I get back.

I suspect that most people on technology message boards generally fall into categories where the iPad would be less useful, so there's some bias there.

Tim Cook has a lot of good things to say about the iPad, for obvious reasons. But stop to think what his typical day is like, and why he probably uses the iPad more than his computer. His productivity is in the form of managing people, making deals, etc. It's beyond the level of a PC. Compare that to a programmer whose level of productivity depends on the PC.

Agree with your observation. Isn't this where the IBM deal that was inked recently begins taking complex applications and simplifying for use as an iOS app?

 

[Winni]

...that shows the iPad being used in hundreds of different ways for a variety of vital tasks that range from composing to choreographing to mountaineering.

Please enlighten us normal people who still have to work for their money: What is "vital" about composing, choreographing and mountaineering?

When Microsoft showed that video with a surgeon who used Kinect in operating room, well, THAT might deserve to be described as "vital".

 

[Gaspode67]

Just make it large enough to display an 8.5x11 doc.

Kinda like Jobs original idea for the design.

Yeah, because the rest of the world outside the US that uses A4 standard size can go whistle...

 

[Keane16]

I still cannot figure out how to produce something with my ipad.
If you produce something with iPad, please tell everyone what are you producing.

I do all sorts of non-consumption activities on my iPad including:

- Monthly budgets
- Quick edits and sharing of photos with friends and family
- Managing my home server via (a HP N54L MicroServer with XPEnology - this includes downloads, ripping DVDs + Blu-Rays, backups, file management, maintaining a video and audio library - all managed by my iPad)
- Bulk typing (iPad held up with my Smart Cover, and my Blutetooth Apple keyboard paired or if I'm on the couch I can AirPlay mirror to the TV too for a bigger screen experience sat in my comfy chair with the keyboard on my lap).
- Formatting my 'bulk typing' using the touch versions of iWork apps
- Some music stuff (not a lot but it's a great little platform to tinker and play with ideas in apps Garageband)
- Email management

I'm plenty productive at home with my iPad. Too many people think it's impossible to be productive on an iPad. I see comments like yours all the time. But being productive is different depending on your needs. Not everyone uses or needs Photoshop or full versions of MS Office to be productive. For example sometimes I'll type out reports in Simplenote on the iPad and then format the text when I'm back in the office using my laptop and MS Word - a few years ago I'd have lugged my laptop back home to finish the report, now I don't thanks to a $400 device.

I still have a MacBook Pro at home too. But it's mostly used to organise iPhoto now (proper edits and managing my library). It'd be nice to shift that work to the iPad but I don't see it any time soon.

At work however I still need a proper laptop (we get ThinkPads, mine's a T430) as the software we use will probably never be suited to a touch device.

The iPad is becoming a bigger and bigger part of my workflow though. Which is pretty incredible for a platform that was launched around 4 years ago. I'm looking forward to it maturing further (side by side apps would be a great addition for me).

 

[stulowe2009]

Haha. Some irony to this one when i received the email ad.

I needed to send a zip file to .... wait for it .... Apple today as part of my 'work and productivity'. Even better it had to be uploaded through their developer support site through an upload button on the site. I was traveling around with my ipad. No possible way to do this rather simple task on an ipad (its not a photo so no way to upload through a web button, and no way to easily get access to a zip from an app that can actually make them). It was urgent so nearly needed me to go back to the office to use my macbook when I realised I can actually do it easily through my android phone with no needed work arounds. Although I use apple everything else I moved away from iPhones a couple of years ago.

Productivity for work is about doing the varied tasks you might encounter during the day, not just typing up simple notes and running a presentation. Work arounds are acceptable in a pinch but if you can't do everything you might encounter (even simple tasks) then you are stuck carrying a laptop still just in case. For me that would stop me relying on my iPad for work.

 

[Gasu E.]

The iPads are actually quite productive.

Sure if you want to write essays/novels then you want a full computer, but if you want to tweak an essay/novel then it's perfectly capable of doing that as well as replying to emails etc.

They are more productive than people think, but like I said they are not a full time replacement for a computer in productivity.

I agree. I notice a lot of people on this site bash tablets. Some people here also bash the Cloud. These sets of people likely overlap. To me, it's not about which device you use, it's about the documents and your ability to interact with them any time, any place, any way. I want to be able to get an idea about something I'm working on while I'm in the shower, in my car, when I wake up in the middle of the night, and capture and integrate it immediately. I don't want to have to fumble around/start up/find/move to another room/wait until I arrive/configure/deal with the limits of some specific device in time/space. I want devices that fit the specific space and situation I'm in, 7x24. I want multiple devices that share seamlessly. Tablets fill a gap here, no doubt. But you have to buy into the Cloud. The world isn't quite at the ideal yet; but it's close and getting closer.

 

[chrisbru]

People who say an iPad can't be used for productivity are probably a lot like people who said email won't work on a phone or that computers don't belong in the workplace.

Yes, the iPad can be used for productivity and creation - millions of people use it as such. Just because you aren't capable of figuring it out, doesn't mean it is impractical.

 

[Mainsail]

I think some people on this site have a very narrow definition of productivity that is limited to content creation of large documents, code, video etc.. However, for many people, significant content creation is not necessary when mobile and away from the office. For these people, an iPad can help them be productive when reviewing, annotating, editing or drafting documents that can later be finalized back at the office.

Also, there are a fair number of people who don't really get paid to create or make content. Rather, they get paid to review other people's work and make decisions. An iPad can be a very useful productivity tool for these folks.

 

[Michael Goff]

You do realise the iWork suite is fairly old correct?

Yes, and despite the fact that I use it, it's no Office.

 

[CoMoMacUser]

Just another silly internet argument...

When was the last time someone forced you to use your iPad for productivity work?

Some companies do under the mistaken assumption that one form factor works well for every employee. Often that assumption overlooks the need for custom apps to ensure productivity, such as how drop-down menus and pre-populated forms are faster than having employees make do with a website designed for PC users.

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Yes, the iPad can be used for productivity and creation - millions of people use it as such. Just because you aren't capable of figuring it out, doesn't mean it is impractical.

One of my clients sometimes blogs about how he prefers to leave his MBP at home and take only his iPad on business trips because he can be just as productive with it. Then there are all these internal emails about not being able to open this or do that. The false bravado is amusing.

 

[jrswizzle]

Lol - I will never understand the "You can't do REAL work on an iPad" crowd....

Perhaps YOU can't do YOUR work on an iPad. But there are plenty of people out there running their businesses off of iPads. Perhaps the "Your Verse" campaign is a bit hard to relate to, but it shows the cool ways some people utilize their iPads in their life/jobs.

And it makes no difference whether or not a competing tablet CAN do those things. The point is these people CHOOSE to use an iPad.

----------

Haha. Some irony to this one when i received the email ad.

I needed to send a zip file to .... wait for it .... Apple today as part of my 'work and productivity'. Even better it had to be uploaded through their developer support site through an upload button on the site. I was traveling around with my ipad. No possible way to do this rather simple task on an ipad (its not a photo so no way to upload through a web button, and no way to easily get access to a zip from an app that can actually make them). It was urgent so nearly needed me to go back to the office to use my macbook when I realised I can actually do it easily through my android phone with no needed work arounds. Although I use apple everything else I moved away from iPhones a couple of years ago.

Productivity for work is about doing the varied tasks you might encounter during the day, not just typing up simple notes and running a presentation. Work arounds are acceptable in a pinch but if you can't do everything you might encounter (even simple tasks) then you are stuck carrying a laptop still just in case. For me that would stop me relying on my iPad for work.

Where was the zip file? In an email? Where?

I would think its fairly easy to forward along a zip file or save it to an app like Dropbox and then mail it from there.

Did you have to unzip it first?

This was the first result when I googled "sending a zip file on iPad"

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/izip-zip-unzip-unrar-tool/id413971331?mt=8

Here's another result that apparently shows iOS 7 added the ability to unzip a zip file without opening in any additional apps provided the files within the zip are supported:

http://www.iphonehacks.com/2013/10/ios-7-supports-zip-files.html

EDIT: I just tested this and it didn't seem to work for me. There were PDFs in a folder in the zip folder. I might test this out further.

 

[lincolntran]

So instead of doing it the easy way, he should come up with a new way to accommodate the device? I thought technology was supposed to be about making things easier?

No, that's not his problem. His problem was that he refused to use third party app to solve his attachment issue. There're plenty of other apps that can solve his problem easily but he refused to use them. Apple doesn't have time to do everything. That's why there're 3rd party apps.

 

[jrswizzle]

No, that's not his problem. His problem was that he refused to use third party app to solve his attachment issue. There're plenty of other apps that can solve his problem easily but he refused to use them. Apple doesn't have time to do everything. That's why there're 3rd party apps.

And it always makes me laugh when people scoff at any work around necessary on an iOS device when so many things people SAY you can do easily with Android require root access or 3rd party apps themselves.

 

[Michael Goff]

No, that's not his problem. His problem was that he refused to use third party app to solve his attachment issue. There're plenty of other apps that can solve his problem easily but he refused to use them. Apple doesn't have time to do everything. That's why there're 3rd party apps.

And yet I can send an email with an attachment on the first party Gmail application when I had my Android phone. I can send it on my Surface RT. I can send one on my cheap Lumia 520. The fact that there is a third party application to make up for what should be a first-party thing isn't a selling point.

 

[jrswizzle]

And yet I can send an email with an attachment on the first party Gmail application when I had my Android phone. I can send it on my Surface RT. I can send one on my cheap Lumia 520. The fact that there is a third party application to make up for what should be a first-party thing isn't a selling point.

Ya, but if you don't use Gmail you have to use the other stock Email app which is absolutely horrendous. No amount of attaching can make it good.

So you're back to downloading a third party alternative (I use Blue Mail).

 

[Michael Goff]

Ya, but if you don't use Gmail you have to use the other stock Email app which is absolutely horrendous. No amount of attaching can make it good.

So you're back to downloading a third party alternative (I use Blue Mail).

You've got me there, I absolutely despise their non-gmail application. I think they moved it to the store, so it might get better eventually, but it is horrible right now.

To be honest, the only phone OS that does email right is WP these days. >_>;